.US' 

I'il2 



TS 1109 



U5 Congress, I SENATE. J Document 

1913 ?^^^o^. i 1 No. 1105. 

Copy 1 



RECOVERY OF CiOYERNMEXT WASTE PAPER. 



M V. S S A ( } E 

FROM THE 

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 

SUBMITTING, 

IN RESPONSE TO SENATE RESOLUTION OF FEBRUARY 21, 1913, 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE SAVING IN RE- 
COVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 



February 24, 1913. — Read, referred to the C'ommittee on Appropriations, and 

ordered to be printed. 



To the Senate: 

In response to the resolution of the Senate (hiled February 21, 
1913, requesting that I send to the Senate any additional information 
submitted by the Commission on Econoni}- and Efficiency relating to 
the matter of saving in recoveiy of Government waste paper, I trans- 
mit herewith reports of the conmiission on the subject dated Septem- 
ber 21, 1912, and Februarv 11, 191.3. 

Wm. H. Taft. 

The White House, Fehruary 24, WIS. 



Report on the Collection, Handling, and Disposition op 
W^\STE Paper in the Government Service. 

Submitted by the President's Commission on Economy and Efficiency. 

February 11, 1913, 
The President: 

The Commission on Economy and Efficiency has the honor to 
submit tlie following report in reference to the collection, handling, 
and disposition of waste paper in the Government service. Based 
upon the result of its investigation, the commission has developed 
three plans, any one of which, if followed, would bring an increased 
I'evenue over that derived under the present practice. These three 
plans are briefly as follows: 

1. That all the Avaste paper in the Government service be accumulated at one 
central station (preferably under the control of the Government Printing Office) and 



c^ 



KECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER 



^X^1<?A 



^i^- 



there assorted into various grades, and that bids be asked for by parades hitlicr than 
hy departments. Under this plan the estimated increase of net proceeds over present 
plan would be $27,844.38 per annum. 

2. That a pulping plant and wet press be installed at this central station and pulp 
made up in wet sheets of various grades and that bids be asked for on the wet shee' -• 
by grades. Under this plan the estimated increase of net proceeds over the presenF 
plan would be $31,273.27 per annum. -v 

3. That a Government plant be installed for the purpose of making paper from 
this waste. Under this plan the estimated increase of net proceeds over the present 
plan would be $105,712.76 per annum. 

The commission recommends that the first plan be adopted fo 
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1913, and that during that year the 
second and third plans be given further consideration. 

PRESENT METHOD OF COLLECTING, HANDLING, AND DISPOSING OF 

WASTE PAPER. 

The methods of collecting waste paper in the various departments 
are almost as numerous as there are departments. In some bureaus , 
the messenger force picks up waste paper; in other bureaus the ' 
waste paper is picked up by the char force; in some bureaus laborers | 
do the collecting. This is also true of the handling. In some * 
bureaus the paper is baled, while in others it is put in storerooms 
in burlap bags and those filled bags carted away by contractors. In 
some bureaus the waste paper is assorted, while in others no assort- 
ing is done. The method of disposing of waste paper also differs in 
various bureaus and departments. Some bureaus sell their waste 

Eaper in an assorted state, others in an unassorted state; some 
ureaus and departments destroy their waste paper (the reason for 
so doing being the confidential nature of the matter printed or writ- 
ten thereon); other bureaus, bemg in rented buildings, permit the 
owners of rented buildings through their employees to collect, handle, 
and dispose of all waste paper, the revenue (if any) bemg kept by 
owners of the buildings. 

Proposals for bids for the sale of waste paper are asked for by the 
departments separately, and in many cases the prices for the same 
kinds of paper vary in amount although purchased by the same 
contractor. The prices paid for waste paper for the fiscal year 1912, 
in most cases, were less than those of previous years. 

A table is attached hereto giving the estimated annual quanti- 
ifes, estimated costs of collectmg and handling, estimated square 
feet of storage space occupied, contractor's price for year 1912, the 
method of disposition, and the estimated revenue for fiscal year 1912. 
This table is marked '' Exhibit A." 

The three plans mentioned on the first page of this report are 
described as follows: 

FIRST PLAN. 

There is now collected throughout the Government service about 
5,712.55 net tons of waste paper annualfy, 77.65 tons of which are at 
present disposed of by either burning, dumping, or giving awa^^ 
The balance, or 5,634.90 tons, is sold. Of this amount, 2,635.57 
tons are sold in an unassorted state (by "unassorted state" is meant 
sold as "waste paper" after assorting a few special grades, or sold 
as "waste paper" without assorting of any kind) and the balance, 
or 2,999.33 tons, is sold in an assorted state. 

D. OF D. 

, ^ mk%. a 1913 



EECOVERY OF GOVEKXMENT WASTE PAPEE. 



~^ It is estimated that if the waste paper now sold as unassorted wore 
/to be assorted the following grades and percentages would result : 



Grades. 



Per cent. Net tons 



Ledger and bond 

Book (Government publications) 

Manila No. 1 

Manila No. 2 

News 

Strawboard 

Cardboard 

Magazines 



395.34 
327. 10 
2f;3..5« 
263. 56 
131.77 
363. 56 
.395.34 
395. 34 



100 



2,635.57 



For the 77.65 tons now disposed of by burning, dumping, or giving 
away, if sold as recommended the same percentages would apply, or: 



Grades. 



Per cent. Net tons 



Ledger and bond 15 

Book (Government publications) ; 20 

Manila No. 1 in 

Manila No. 2 10 

News 5 

Strawboard I 10 

Cardboard . 15 

Magazines '. 15 



U.65 
15.53 
7.75 
7.76 
3.89 
7.76 
11.65 
11.65 



77.65 



The average prices per ton quoted on this stock by the New York 
Paper Trade Journal for the six months ended July 1, 1912, were as 
follows : 

Led2;er and bond 131. 60 

Book 19. 60 

Manila No. 1 13. 00 

Manila No. 2 8. 60 

News 7. 20 

Strawboard 6. 00 

Cardboard 6. 00 

Magazines : - - - 10. 60 

It is recommended that all the waste paper of the Government 
service be collected by automobile truck service, under the super- 
vision of the Public Printer, and brought to the building occupi(^d 
by the Government Printing Ofhce, tmd there assorted and sold 
under separate contracts for grades of paper, rather than by separate 
contracts for separate departments. The reason for recoinmending 
that the Government Printing Office be the central collection station 
is that the Government Printing Office now has close to 50 per cent 
of the Government waste paper and therefore only about 50 per 
cent would have to be rehandled rather than the whole. 

It is estimated that the cost of assorting would amount to abf'ut 
$1.25 per ton. The cost of collecting (using two auto trucks and 
two men, although it is thought that one truck and one man are 
sufficient) would amount to about $3,000. This $3,000 is estimated 
to include the cost of repairs, depreciation, etc., of trucks. 

As the New York Paper Trade Journal quotes prices for New 
York City, and as the mills using waste paper are not situated in 
the city of New York, the difference in freight rates between Wash- 
ington'and mill points and New York City and mill points should be 
taken into consideration. The difference in freight rates on waste 



EECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 



paper averages about $1 per ton. As there are about 5,712.55 tons 
the difference in freight rates amounts to 15,712.55. 

There are 2,713.22 tons of waste paper per year now unassorted or 
destroyed. As this woukl have to be assorted prior to selhng, the 
cost 01 such assorting would amount to $3,391.53. 

As a large part of the waste paper now sold in an unassorted state 
is baled by small hand balers and some by the old-fashioned power 
balers it is estimated that the cost of baling the entire quantity of 
waste paper would not be as great as the present cost if up-to-date 
hydraulic presses were used. 

The total present revenue from the disposition of the unassorted 
waste paper amounts to $10,291.30. Under the proposed plan, the 
revenue from this paper would amount to $38,717.90; as shown by 
the following table, No. 1 : 

Table No. 1. 



Grades. 


Tons im- 
assorted. 


Tons de- 
stroyed. 


Total. 


Price 
per ton. 


Amount. 


Ledger and bond 


395. 34 
527. 10 
263. 56 
263.56 
131.77 
203. 56 
395. 34 
395. 34 


11.05 
15.53 
7.76 
7.76 
3.89 
7.76 
11.65 
11.65 


406.99 
542. 63 
271.32 
271.32 
135.66 
271.32 
406. 99 
406. 99 


$31. 60 
19. 60 
13.00 
S.60 
7.20 
• 6.00 
6.00 
10.60 


812,860.88 


Book 

Manila No. 1 

Manila No. 2 


10, 635. 74 
3,527.16 
2,333.35 

976. 82 


Strawboard ". 

Cardboard 


1,627.92 
2,441.94 
4,314.09 






Total 


2,635.57 


77. 65 


2,713.22 




38,717.90 
10,291.30 


Present revenue from sale of tliis paper 














Estimated increa.sed revenue . 


28,426.60 


1 









The waste paper now assorted, if bringing the prices shown by the 
average for the six months ending July 1, 1912, of the New York 
Paper Trade Journal, would produce a revenue of $63,758.51 as com- 
pared with $52,236.65, the amount received under the present method. 
The details are shown in Table No. 2. 

Table No. 2. 



Present name of grade. 


Grade according to paper trade. 


Price per 

quantity, pj^"" 
net tons. r.^^g 

Journal. 


Estimated 
net re- 
turns. 


Money-order checks (blue safety) . . 
Internal-revenue stub books, col- 
. ored writings. 
Pressboard 


High-grade printed writings 

Colored writings (printed blanks) 

Straw and box boards 


336. 84 
308. 15 

18.95 


S22. 00 
15.00 

6.00 
6.00 
43. 00 
36.00 
33. 00 
17.00 
22.00 
28.00 
10.00 
S.OO 
17.00 
17.00 
10.00 


$7,410.48 
4,622.15 

113.70 


Straw and tar boards 


do 


11.91 
76.36 

357.67 
30.90 

462. 65 

930. 92 
36.46 
97.74 

193. 73 
60.07 
74.90 
2.08 


71.46 


Shavings from blanks 


No. 1 hard white shavings 


3,436.20 




12,876.12 


Monotype keyboard 


No. 1 manUas 


1,019.70 




7,865.05 


Imperfeef ions from printed papers . 


No. 1 crumpled sheet stock 

Extra new manila clippings 

Bogus and mill wrappers 


20,480.24 
1,020.88 




977.40 




1,549.84 


Discarded publications 


No. 1 book, heavy 


1,021.19 


Book piper. ... .- 


do 


1,273.30 


Registered package envelopes 


No. 2 old manilas 


20. SO 










2,999.33 










52, 23ii. 65 














11,521.86 











RECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 5 

The total increased revenue, as shown by Tables Nos. 1 and 2, would 
amount to $39,948.46 From this should be deducted: 

Cost of collection by motor trucks (not now performed by departments) $3, 000. 00 

Difference in freight rates 5, 712. 55 

Cost of assorting 2,713.22 tons, at $1.25 per ton 3, 391. 53 

1 12, 104. 08 

Net increased proceeds 27, 844. 38 

The foregoinf^ figures showing comparison of revenues and proceeds 
do not take into consideration the costs of collecting and handling 
waste pa{)er. These costs under the present plan, as shown in Ex- 
hibit A amount to $32,742.43. The costs of collection and handling 
under plan proposed in the foregoing will not be affected, therefore 
it is thought unnecessary to bring them into the calculations wherein 
comparisons under the two plans are made. 

SECOND PLAN. 

An ap])lication has recently l^een filed in the Patent Office for a 
patent on a deinking and defibering machine, and process, and allow- 
ance thereof has been made. This machine and process is for the 
purpose of reducing paper to a pulp, separating the ink that appeared 
on paper from the fibers, also separating the fibers. Pajier mills now 
manufacturing paper from old stock (or waste paper) do exactly the 
same thing, but their methods are cumbersome and expensive as com- 
pared with the simple arrangement of the method of this newly in- 
vented machine and process. 

A working model of this machine was tested by a committee on 
waste paper representing this commission, consisting of an expert 
from the Bureau of Standards and two representatives from the com- 
mission. The machine did all that was claimed for it, and is thought 
to be a great improvement over all other known })rocesses of producing 
pulp from waste paper. 

The following is a report made by the expert from the Bureau of 
Standards who was detailed as a member of the committee on waste 
paper covering matters connected with the recovery of old papers: 

The Recovery of Old Papers. 

At the {)reyent time there are three general methods in use for the recovery of old 
paper stock. One of these methods is comparatively new, while the two other methods 
are more or less a modification of methods in use for a considerable number of years. 

These three methods are known as follows: (.'ooking in closed tanks or boilers, 
cooking in open tanks or kettles, and cooking in inclosed-engine cookers. The last- 
named method is the more modern, while the first two are very much older methods. 

The general jiractice for the pi-eliminary handling of old papers is substantially the 
same for all of the various cooking methods and consists in sorting the old papers by 
hand into the grades desired and at the same time removing all undesired grades, 
together with any pieces of rubber, wood, or metal, etc., as may be contained therein. 
After sorting, the paper is run through dusting machines that thrash the papers around, 
in order to remove all dirt and dust, which is sucked away by suction fans. The 
papers are somewhat torn and shredded in this dusting process, and in some mills they 
are still further torn apart by passing through a shredding machine which reduces 
them to sizes varying from 3 to 10 inches square. 

1 The paper now destroyed because of the eonfldential nature of memoranda thereon should be put 
through a shredder, destroying confidential notations, and sold with the paper not so shredded. The cost 
of shredding is a very small consideration. 



6 EECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 

COOKING BY CLOSED-TANK METHOD. 

The old papers after handling, as previously noted, are run into large rotary boilers,, 
together with milk of lime, and soda ash or caustic soda, depending on the particular 
mill practice, and after closing the boiler, live steam is introdiiced to a pressure of 
from 10 to 50 pounds, equal to a temperature of from 240° to 300° F., and the boiler is 
rotated. This cooking process is carried on from 8 to 16 hoiu's, at the end of which 
time the pressure is relieved and the contents dumped into box trucks and run into 
washing engines, where the stock is defibered by the action of the beater roll, and the 
ink and dirt are removed by one or more cylinder washere. This washing process 
requires from 4 to 8 hours, depending upon the number of cylinder washers. After 
washing, the stock must be bleached with a chloride of lime solution and then run 
into draining vats, where the stock drains, and after rewashing by the introduction 
of water to free the stock from any remaining bleach the stock is ready to be put into 
beaters preparatory to remaking into paper. This draining process requires from 
four days to two weeks. The length of time required to drain is due to the necessity 
of removing any bleach that may remain, as bleach has an injurious effect on finished 
paper. The loss of fiber due to this process is from 25 to 50 per cent, depending on the 
care with which the operation is carried on and the quality of papers used. 

COOKING BY THE OPEN-KETTLE PROCESS. 

The principal difference between this method as compared with the closed-tank 
method is that the old papers are cooked in open tanks at atmospheric pressure equal 
to 212° F., and a solution of soda ash is used. The cooking operation is carried on 
from 10 to 16 hours, at the end of which time the stock is washed, bleached, and run 
into drainers, as in the first method described, with the same time requirements. 
The loss of fiber due to this process is from 20 to 40 per cent and is less than the first 
method, due to a decrease in both temperature and pressure, as well as a decrease in 
strength of chemicals used. 

COOKING BY THE INCLOSED-ENGINE PROCESS. 

In this process the old papers are cooked direct in a beating engine, fitted with a 
steam-tight cover, at a pressure of 5 pounds, equal to a temperature of 228° F. 
Soda a.sh is the chemical used to soften the paper and to form an emulsion with the fats 
of the ink. This method of cooking and defibering requires about four hours, at the 
end of which time the pulp is run into washing engines, where it is washed in from two 
to six hours, and, after bleaching, is run to drainers, as in the previous methods. The 
loss of fiber by this process is from 20 to 40 per cent, but the time saved is from 4 to 12 
hours over either of the two previous methods. 

It is a very well-known fact that any fibers that go to make up a sheet of paper 
may be very seriously injured by the action of high temperature, causing a weakenmg 
in the fiber and an actual loss in weight, due to fiber decomposition. In other words, 
an increase in temperature results in an increased fiber loss. In order to get the best 
results from recovering old papers, the process must be carried on at the lowest temper- 
ature Avith the weakest chemicals and with as little mechanical action as possible.. 
In addition to these three requirements, the consideration of time required is also an 
important item. Any process which does not require the pulp to be bleached after 
washing is a saAdng in machinery, labor, tune, chemicals, power, and space, and also 
a saving in fiber loss, as any bleaching solution is injurious to all paper fibers. 

The new process for the recovery of old papers, as invented by Mr. O. C. Winestock, 
of Perkinsville, Vt., was very carefully inspected, and several runs were made. 

The method of making each demonstration was as follows: Fifteen pounds of paper 
were weighed out and soaked in hot water (about 110° F.) for a few minutes; the wei 
stock was then fed to the machine. After filling the machine with the required 
amount of hot water at from 160° to 170° F., the wet paper pulp and chemicals were 
added, the machine run until a sample drawn from the machine showed no small par- 
ticles of paper not entirely defibered. The time required for this machine to reduce 
paper to a mass of individual fibers suspended in water and to .separate the ink from 
the fibei, varied from 2 to 15 minutes, depending on the characteristics of the paper 
used. 

The pulp, after being reduced in the machine, .was run into a single-cylinder washer, 
wiiere it remained for from one to three hours, wlien it was thoroughly washed free nf 
any ink particles. 

The pulp, after washing, is then ready for the paper-machine beater and does not 
require any bleaching whatever, nor does it re^piire the addition of any new stock. 



RECOVERY OF GOVEKXMEXT WASTE PAPER. 7 

The estimated fiber loss is from 10 to 20 per cent, depending on quality of the stock, 
percentage of ash, and size. 

The pulp was very carefully examined under the microscope to see if any parti- 
cles of carbon remained; practically none were found. The fibers show no signs of 
injury either in regard to shortening or bruising, nor were the fine frayed-out ends 
of a well-l)eaten rag fiber destroyed. Any loss of fiber due to this process must come 
as a result of fiber passing through the wire of the cylinder washer. The operating 
temperature is too low to cause any appreciable fil)er decomposition, also the chem- 
icals used are too weak, and the mechanical action is such that there is very little or 
no loss from these causes. 

Three kinds of paper were used for the demonstrations — "printed news," "printed 
Congressional Record," and printed "supply schedules" of the General Supply Com- 
mittee. These three grades were selected for the reason that they include a wide 
range in grades, the "news" l>eing 75 per cent ground wood and 25 per cent vmbleached 
sulphite, the "Congressional Record" containing 100 per cent bleached sulphite, 
highly sized and calendered, and the "■ supply schedules" containing 90 per cent 
rag and 10 per cent bleached sulphite pulj). The following table shows the time 
required for handling each of the three lots of paper: 





Started to 
fill at— 


Finished 
filling at — 


Chemicals 
in at — 


End of run 
at- 


Total time 
ill minutes. 


Time in 
minutes 
required 
to sep.i- 
rate ink. 


News 


12.04.5 

3.28.5 

2.02.5 


12.11.5 
.3. 44. 5 

2. 06. 5 


12.12.5 

3. 45. 5 

2. 07. 


12. 15. 
3..J2.5 

2.11.0 


10.5 
24.0 

S.5 


3.5 




«. 


General Supplj' Committee 
schedules . 


4.& 









The lots of paper used were all more or less colored with coloring matter, it being 
necessary to use some blue and red coloring in order to get a white sheet of paper. 
This coloring matter was, of comse, washed out during the process, along with ink, 
size, and filler, so that the color of the recovered stock was not an absolute match 
with the paper before going through the process, but there is no doubt that had the 
pulp been made back into paper, under the same conditions as when originally made, 
the resulting paper would have been an exact match. Any paper maker will readily 
understand this point and appreciate its full value. 

It is a well-known fact that in recovering books and higher grade stock, the presence 
of any paper containing ground wood is shown by the paper turning a very dark- 
brown color, which can not be bleached out, and this paper tends to lower the value 
of the whole batch of recovered stock. The Winestock process absolutely does not 
discolor papers containing ground-wood pulp, thus making this ])rocess available for 
recovering old newspaper. 

The machine is of such design that it could very readily be made in larger sizes — say, 
for example, one handling a charge of 500 pounds of old papers. The time of handling 
such sized charges would not be increased very materially, besides such sized machines 
would cut down labor, floor space, etc. 

To sum up and compare this new process with the three processes, as previously 
described-, shows the following advantages in favor of the new process: A great reduc- 
tion in time required to recover, decrease in floor space, power, labor, ancl chemicals, 
a very much lower working temperature, and no bleaching or new stock required. 
Considering all these points, the fact of increased fiber yield becomes self-evident. 

It is recommended that this process be installed for the pm^pose 
of converting the waste paper now sold as such into a wet stock 
called by the trade "wet sheets," and sohl as such. 

All papers must be subjected to a recovery process for the ])urpose 
of defil)erino; or deinkino;, or both, before the paper stock becomes 
available for remanufacture into ])aper. For this reason it becomes 
necessary to diviile the Government waste paper into two general 
classes, viz, those }>ai)ers available for remanufacturing into white 
or colored i)apers, and the remaining ])a])ers that are only availal)le 
for remanufacturing into "wra])i)ings,"" "boxlxiards," etc. 



8 RECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 

The first general class may be still furtlier subdivided into the 
following grades : 

No. 1 white bond and ledger shavings. 

No. 1 soft white shavings. 

Colored writings. 

Printed writings. 

Book. 

Under this subdivision, the following tonnage is available for re- 
manufacturing into high-grade white and colored ''papers." 

Tons. 

No. 1 white bond and ledger shavings 76. 36 

No. 1 soft white shavings 357. 67 

Colored writings (rag) 308. 15 

Printed and used wi-itings 743. 83 

Book 2, 478. 16 

The balance, 1,748.38 tons, could go into a grade of remanu- 
factured wi'apping papers. It would lie more advantageous to take 
this or most of this paper now in sha})e of wrapping ])a])er, and assort 
for good pieces to be reused as wrapping and sold only as waste 
pa])er when unfit for reuse. This j^aper, when unlit for reuse as 
wrappers, may be reduced to pulp, but it is better not to have so 
great a difference in the grades at this pulping plant because this 
wrapping paper is a much inferior grade to the 3,964.17 tons before 
mentioned. It is suggested that this paper be sold as recommended 
under plan No. 1. 

The cost of reducing this 3,964.17 tons by the Winestock process 
into wet sheets ready for shipment to and use by paper mills would be 
about $9 per ton. Ihis figure has been computed by the expert from 
the Bureau of Standards, one of the members on the joint committee 
on waste paper, who has had practical experience in paper mills 
and is familiar with the Winestock process. 

This $9 per ton includes estimated depreciation on i)lant and 
interest on investment. 

The following table gives the estimated costs in connection with 
the pul])ing and other handling of this 3,964.17 tons: 

3,964 tons of pulp, at $9 per ton $35, 677. 53 

3,964 tons (present cost of collections, and other handling) 22, 722. 64 

Motor truck maintained, etc., as per plan No. 1 3, 000. 00 

Assorting 1,356.61 tons, at $1.25 per ton 1,695. 76 

63,095.93 
In order that this pulp stock may be delivered in the best condition to 
paper manufacturers, it is necessary to leave with the pulp in shipping 
a quantity of water or moisture about equal in weight to the pulp stock. 
Except for the loss of material due to the process of reducing to pulp 
which amounls to about 15 per cent of the original quantity of waste 
paper, the shipping weight of this pulp would be twice the weight of 
the waste. Therefore the average cost of transportation at $2.40 ])er 
ton would be 16, 173. 79 

Illustrated as follows: . Tons. 

Original weight of waste • 3, 964. 17 

Loss through pulping process, 15 per cent 594. 63 

A\'eight of pul]) stock 3, 369. 54 

Weight of water or moisture 3, 369. 54 

Shipping weight 6. 739. 08 

Freight cost, at $2.40 per ton $16, 173. 79 

Total costs 79, 269. 72 



EECOVERY OF GOVERXMEXT WASTE PAPER. 9 

The table following gives the estimated r(>venues from the sale ()f 
these wet sheets: 

Table No. 3. 



No. 1 shavings, white bond and ledger. 

No. 1 shavings, white, soft 

Colored rag writings 

Printing and used writings 

Book papers 



Total. 



Tons 



70. 3C 
357. 07 
3()S. 15 
743. K5 
.47S. 10 



Net tons 
recovered 

at ,H5 per 
cent vield. 



04.90 

304.02 

201 . 94 

032. 25 

2.100.43 



K St i mated 
sales price. 



$00. 00 
50.00 
25. 00 
44.00 
40.00 



3,309.54 1 137,719.70 



Kstiniuted 

gross 
revenue. 




The 1,748.38 tons would bring, if sold as per plan No. 1 

The costs connected with the collection, handling, etc., are as follows: 

Present cost of collecting, handling, etc |10, 019. 79 

To assort 1,356.61 tons out of the above-mentioned total, 

at $1.25 per ton (sold now "unassorted ") 1, 695. 76 

Difference in freight rates as described in plan No. I . . . . 1, 356. 61 



115,680.97 



13,072.16 

2. 608. 81 



Net revenue from 1,748.38 tons 

Gross revenue from 3,964.17 137, 719. 70 

Total expense costs 79, 269. 72 

Net revenue from 3,964.17 tons 58, 449. 98 



Net proceeds under plan No. 2 61 , 058. 79 

The net proceeds of $61,058.79 shown uikUm- the above ])lan con- 
templates no change in cost of collecting and handling as com])ared 
with the present plan. I'hese costs imder the present ])lan as shown 
by Exhibit A are $32,742.43 again.st a revenne of $62,527.95, leaving 
net proceeds of $29,785.52 annually. The increased ])rocee(ls under 
plan No. 2 over the present i)lan, therefore, would amount to 
$31,273.27 annually. 

The estimated cost of installing a ])ul))ing plant would be about 
$75,000. This amount would cover all ])ossible contingencies. 



THIRD FLAX. 

In plan 3 it is thought that, as both })lans No. 1 and No. 2 con- 
template the selling of either the waste pa])er as such or the wet 
sheets as such to paper mills the shippin"; expense would 1)e a large 
item, together with the numerous handlings of same, it would be 
better to remanufacture the waste into new paper in a Government- 
owned plant. This paper could be used exclusively by the Govern- 
ment Printing Office, as that office is the largest buyer of paper in 
the Government service. It is believed that of all the plans described 
this plan should be followed, owing to the fact that the most favor- 
able conditions would result therefrom. 

The figures given throughout this plan are those comj^iled by the 
same representative of the Bureau of Standards as mentioned in 
Plan No. 2. 



10 



RECOVERY OF OOVEEXMEXT WASTE PAPER. 



The o, 964. 17 tons of the one class of paper mentioned in plan No 
2 would reproduce 3,369.54 tons. This would be divided as follows: 



Under 


(iovcrnnieiu I'rintini; Ollico schedule. 


Tons. 


Prices per 
ton paid by 
Govornnient 

Print int; 
Office corre- 
spondinsi to 

each item. 


Value. 


Iti'ms46to41 


64.90 

304. 02 

2fil.94 

6S2.25 

2, 100. 4.3 


.?100.00 
90.00 
SO. 00 
90. 00 
SO. 00 


SO, 490. 00 


Itoms 226 to 256 


27,361. SO 
20, 955. 20 


\\ liite and colored 


writ incs 


56, 902. 50 


Book 




168,514.40 








Total 


3,369.54 




280, 223. 90 







The cost of manufacturing other than the cost of pulping as shown 
in plan No. 2 amounts to about $25 per ton. Tliis amount includes 
dc})reciation and interest on the investment. 

3,369.54 tons, at $25 .|84, 238. 50 

(.'ost ol" collecting, handling, assorting, converting to pulp, etc., as shown 

in plan No. 2. '. 63, 095. 93 

147, 334. 43 

A'alue of paper shown above 280, 223. 90 

Net incnnie from sale of 1,748.28 tons of waste paper, as shown in Table 

No. 3 of plan No. 2 2, 608. 81 

282,832.71 
Less costs as per above 147, 334. 43 

Net proceeds under plan No. 3 135, 498. 28 

The net proceeds of $135,498.28 shown under the above plan con- 
template no change in cost of collecting and handling as compared 
with the present plan. These costs under the present plan as shown 
l)y Exhi])it A are $32,742.43 against a revenue of $62,527.95, or net 
])rocecds from the sales under the present plan of $29,785.52. The 
increased proceeds under plan No. 3 over the present plan, there^- 
fore, would amount to $105,712.76 annually. 

The estimated cost for installation of plant for pulping, manu- 
facturing paper, etc., is placed at a maximum of $600,000. This 
estimate covers cost of grounds, buildings, necessary machinor}', etc. 

A preliminary report on the subject of money pulp has been sub- 
mitted to you under date of September 21, 1912. In this report h 
was recommended that a ])lan similar to plan No. 2 be followed. This 
commission ex}')ects within the next two months to submit a final 
report relative to money-pa])er pulj). 

There is now being erected on the grounds of the Bureau of Stand- 
ards, to be operatetl under its supervision, a complete commercial 
size defibering and deinking machine of the Winestock make. It is 
anticipated that this machine will be ready for operation during the 
first week of Febrtiary, 1913, after which time adcHtional practical 
tests will be made, an(l reports relative thereto will be <!uly submitted. 

Respectfully submitte 1. 

Frederick A. Cleveland, 
Walter W. Warwick, 
^Ierritt O. Chance, 

Commissioners. 



RECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 
Exhibit A. 



11 



Department, office, etc. 


Esti- 
mated 
annual 
quantity. 


collec -'*^d 
handling. „Xp?ed. 


Amuial 
con- 
tract 
price 
("fiscal 
year 
1912). 


Estimated 
revenue— 
1911 quan- 
tities and 
1912 prices. 


Method of disposition. 


Department of Staie 

Department of the Treas- 
ury. 

Dejiartment of War 

Department of lust ice 

Post OiTue Department 

Department of t he Xavy. . . 

Department of tlie Interior. 

Department of .\gricuhiire. 

Department of Commerce 
and Labor. 

Government PrintincOflice 


Tons. 
10.00 
2 1,560.69 

148. 60 
15.90 

400. 00 

Ml. 89 
3 259.39 
6 167.09 

189.95 

9 2.588. 48 

4.00 
13. 70 
25.03 

27. 00 

12. 00 

12 93. 10 

i< 155.73 


.?197. 10 
7,051.60 

3 13.33 
342.36 
3 744. 60 
1,544.17 
3,792.52 
3,761.56 
2,078.55 

11,209.79 

10 29G. 25 
39. 96 
207.50 

11 27.00 

36.14 

(13) 

1,400.00 


Square ft. 

None. 

7,665.25 

.565.50 
364.00 
682. 00 
788. 64 
1, 756. 75 
778. 42 
'402.00 

1 , 190. 00 

124. 00 
100. 00 
' 70. 00 

270. 00 

1,080.00 

225. 00 

' 72. 00 






Burned. ' 


S3. 00 
2.40 
5.30 
3.00 
1.50 
3.00 
6.20 

(') 


.?13,595.99 

445. 80 

38.16 

2,120.00 

< 66. 72 

\ 389. 08 

^ 405.27 

1,177.69 

42,371.48 


Sold baled in an assorlc<l 

state. 
Sold unassorted. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do.« 

Sold baled in an assoricd 

slate. 
Burned. 


Isthmian Canal Commission 
District of Colimibia 

Interstate Commerce Com- 
mission. 
Pan American I nion 

House of Representatives.. 

City post office 


2.00 
3.00 

2.. 50 

(12) 
(14) 


27.40 
75.09 

67.50 

1,271.20 
476.57 


Sold unassorted. 
Sold baled in an unas- 
sorted state. 
Do. 

Given 1 Salvation 

Army. 
Sold in a limited assorted 

state. 








5,712.55 


32,742.43 16,133.56 




62,527.95 



1 Burned because of the confidential nature of the written or printed matter thereon. 
- This paper is as.sorted into tlie following grades and quantities, bringing prices noted: 

Tons. Per ton. 

.336.84 money orders $22.00 

308.15 colored (internal revenue stub books) 12. 00 

192.80 mixed paper 4. 20 

18.95 pressboard 5. 00 

11.91 strawboard and tar board cuttings 4. 00 

692.04 unassorted 4. 00 

3 Does not include portion of salaries of charwomen and messengers. 

< Paper of United States Naval Observatory burned on premises. Paper of Marine Corps (Paymaster'.'i 
Department) is collected and disposedof by owners of rented buildings. 

5 In Reclamation Service the waste paper is disposed of by owners of rented buildings 

' In office of Solicitor the wa.ste paper is burned. In Forest Service the waste paper is disposed of liy 
owners of rented buUdings. 

' Estimated. 

8 In Bureau of Standards the waste paper is destroyed. 

9 This paper is assorted into the following grades and quantities, bringing prices noted: 

Tons. Per tori.- 

76.36 shavings from blanks and blank books $38. 00 

357.67 shavings from book papers (white) 32. 00 

30.90 monotype keyboard paper 30. 00 

462.65 shavings from book papers (mixed) .- 14. 00 

930.92 imperfections from prmted paper 18.00 

36.46 manUa clippings " 20. 00 

97.74 brown wrappers .". . . 4. 00 

341.98 waste sweepings 4. 00 

193.73 cuttings from strawboard, etc 4.00 

60.07 discarded publications 10. 00 

'» The cost of hauling to burning place not included. 

" This amount is cost of baling. Does not include cost of collection or other handling. 

'2 This paper is assorted into the following two grades and quantities, bringing prices noted: 

Tons. !'(r ton. 

18.20 waste paper $4- 00 

74.90 book paper Ifi- 00 

13 No estimate given. 

n This paper is assorted into the foUowi ng two grades and quantities, bringing prices noted: 

Tons. Per Ion. 

153.65 waste paper S3. 00 

2.08 registered package envelopes S. 00 



THE RECOVERY OF FIBER STOCK OF 
CANCELED PAPER MONEY 



THE RECOVERY OF FIBER STOCK OF CANCELED PAPER MONEY. 



September 21, 1912. 

The President: The Commission on Economy and EfRciency has 
under investigation the disposal of the waste paper of tiic Government 
and exj)ects to make a full report to you on tlie suhject by the 1st of 
December. 

Among other studies being made are the diP.'erent processes of 
deinking and defibering canceled paper money. In connection with 
the latter we beg to submit at this time a ]n"eliminary report prepared 
by ]\Ir. F. C. Clark of the Bureau of Staiuhirds. and u member of our 
subcommittee on waste pa])er, relative to the results obtained by a 
new process of reclaiming waste ])aper, known as tiie Winestock 
process. 

As will be noted from this report, Air. Clark estimates that an 
annual sa\'ing of $100,000 will result by the use of this new i)rocess, 
instead of the present process of macerating and disposuig of this 
stock. 

A former investigation was nuule of this process of defibering and 
deinking waste pa])er, by members of this joint committee, at which 
time, however, studying its application to waste ])aper generally, of 
which there are between 5,000 ana G,000 tons accumulated annually 
l)y the various services of the Government at Washington. 

There is submitted with the report referred to herewith samples of 
canceled paper money after maceration by the ])resent process, and 
samples of the macerated paj^er after being put through the Wine- 
stock process. 

In order that an i(Uni may be had as to what the Yv'inestock ])rocess 
is, the following brief statement nuiv be of interest: 

The machine is of the nature of an open centrifugal pump, so 
designed and constructed as to produce a remarkabh" rapid defibering 
action upon a sheet of paper Avithout injury to the fibers in any way. 
The rapid and com])lete defibering of the paper tends to produce a 
much more rapid chemical action between the mk and those chemicals 
us«d to produce saponification. The time required to produce com- 
plete saponification and defiber the paper varies from 2 to 10 minutes 
in a small machine and would not exceed 30 minutes in a large com- 
mercial machine. At the end of this time the pulp is ready for 
washing, and then it is available for remanufacture into paper without 
the use of any bleaching agents. 

The present methods for the recovery of old paper all require cook- 
ing from 8 to 16 hours at high pressure and temperature, with a large 
amount of chemicals, after which time the pulp requires a prolonged 
washing operation and a high percentage of ])leach to produce the 
desired white color. 

15 



16 ' RECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 

The advantages of this new process over the present methods are: 
Groat saving in time, power, labor, chemicals, and a very much higher 
percentage of yield. 

In order that we may further investigate the possible application of 
this plan and study out other plans which we have under considera- 
tion m connection with the subject of making distinctive paper, wo 
lind that it will be advisable to have a representative of the Bureau 
of Standards and a representative of this commission, both members 
of the joint committee on the subject of paper, visit the mills at 
Dalton, Mass., where this money paper is manufactured, in order that 
they may become accjuainted witn the processes which are now 
employed. With this m view we would thank you to authorize the 
Secretary of the Treasury to grant two members of this committee 
permission to study the processes employed at present in the manu- 
facture of this paper. *• 

Respectfully submitted. 

F. A. Cleveland, 
W. W. Warwick, 
M. O. Chance, 

Commissioners. 



CANCELED PAPER MONEY. 



Department of Commerce and Labor, 

Bureau of Standards, 

Washington. 
Mr. M. 0. Chance, 

Secretary the PresidenVs Commission on Economy and Efficiency, 

White House, Washington. D. C. 

Sir: Relative to my recent trip from Newmarket, N. H , to Perkinsville, Vt., and 
return, I have the honor to report to you through Dr. S. W. Stratton, Director of the 
Bureau of Standards. 

As the railroad connections across New Uampshire are very poor, it was necessary 
to leave Newmarket, N. 11., Monday, August ]2. at 7.10 a. m., over the Boston & 
Maine in order to make the best connections, arriving at Charlestown, N. H., at 12.50 
p. m., by way of Manchester, Concord, and Claiemont Junction. The ride to Spring- 
field, Vt., was by trolley from Charlestown, N. 11., arriving there at 1.30 p. m. 

At Springfield I met Mr. G. W. Craigie, who was there to examine the Winestock 
process in the interests of the S. D. Warren Co., of Cumberland Mills, Me. 

Tuesday we were called for by Mr. Winestock, who took us to his experimenta 
plant at Perkinsville. Later in the morning several New York men arrived. They 
were Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Auchincloss, and a Mr. Hartman, who represented the firm of 
George F. Hardy, the well-known consulting engineer and paper-mill architect. 

The first test was made on a 10-pound mixture of Saturday Evening Posts, Literary 
Digests, and the Watthman. The time required to defiber the paper and prepare it 
for the washing engine was three minutes. 

The second test was on macerated United States cm-rency stock, and about 10 min- 
utes were requii-ed to completely defiber the small particles of paper contained therein. 

For the thu"d run some high-grade machine-finished writing paper, containing 90 
per cent of rag, was used. The time required to completely defiber was four minutes. 

The last run was made on old printed newspapers and rcquu'ed three and one-half 
minutes to reduce the paper to pulp. 

It was impossible in the short space of time available to thoroughly wash any of these 
four lots of pulp, so only enough was washed by hand to provide the necessary size 
samples for those interested. As my previous report covers the work done on all these 
papers, except the macerated United States cun-ency, this report will deal with the 
observations made while handling that particular stock. 

All of these tests were very much handicajjped by water conditions. River water 
was used, and owing to there being some pink coloring matter in the water fiom the 
cotton mills above, also a large amount of decayed vegetable matter due to low water, 
we were not able to get as good a white color on the pulp as we otherwise would have 
done. 

On Wednesday a second run was made on the United States cm-rency stock. The 
chemicals used in the run were slightly different from those used in the first run on 
this kind of stock, and results were more nearly what was requh-ed. The color was 
of a brighter and clearer white than in the previous run. The following table gives 
the time requhed to defiber the United States money: 



First run... 
Second run. 



Began 

filling 

machine. 



H. m. s. 

1 31 25 
10 36 50 



Finished 

filling 
machine. 



H. m. s. 
1 32 10 
10 37 50 



S. Doc. 1105. 62^3- 



Chemicals 




m. 




H. 


TO. 


3. 


1 


32 


10 


10 


38 


00 



End of 
nin. 



H. m. 

1 41 
10 44 



Total 
time in 
minutes. 



Time in 

minutes 

required to 

defiber and 

loosen ink. 



17 



18 EECOVERY OF GOVERNMENT WASTE PAPER. 

The difference between the two runs was due to running a little longer than was 
thought necessary on the first run in order that the pulp would be thoroughly defibered. 
All of Wednesday afternoon and Thursday was spent in washing the pulp and pre- 
paring samples for shipment to the Bureau of Standards. 

I left Springfield at 5.50 Friday morning, arriving in Newmarket, N. H., at 3 p. m., 
over the same route as used in going to Springfield. 

The results of these runs show very conclusively that the Winestock process will 
defiber United States currency stock, and also that it will loosen up the ink so that it 
may be readily removed in the ordinary washing engine. In order to get the best 
results this process should be substituted for the present method of macerating United 
States currency in use at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The method of the 
bureau consists in cooking the paper money in a very strong solution of soda ash at 
about the boiling temperature of water. The vat or kettle in which this is done is 
provided with a series of revolving knives, which has a more or less grinding action on 
the pulp. The effect of the grinding action is to shorten the fibers and also to rub the 
ink or coloring matter into the pores of the fibers, maldng it more difficult to remove 
the ink without bleaching. The Winestock process would entirely overcome this 
defect as well as being a much cheaper method, and the pulp obtained would have a 
very much higher market value. 

It will always be necessary to use some caustic alkali in treating old money paper, 
as by so domg the silk fiber is destroyed; but were the paper money first put through 
the Winestock process, then washed, and treated to a weak solution of caustic alkali, 
the silk would be dissolved and yet the alkali would not be jtrong enough to weaken 
the rag fibers. Any weakening of the rag fibers means not only a loss due to deteri- 
oration, but an actual loss in weight. 

At the present time the Government buys about 500 tons of money paper per year, 
at a cost of almost $800 per ton. The sale price of macerated money paper is about 
131.50 per dry ton, which, together with the loss due to present methods of macerat- 
ing and cooking, cost of handling, etc., makes the net retinn practically a negligible 
quantity. The advantages to be gained by the use of the Winestock process would 
be as follows: 

The recovered pulp would be of a good white color obtained without the use of 
bleach and could be put upon the market in such shape that an estimated price of 
about 1200 per air-dry ton could be obtained. 

This estimated price per ton is based upon the fact that new rags used in making 
this grade of paper cost about $200 per ton, not adding the cost of reducing the rags 
to a pulp, which amounts to about $50 per ton. 

The pulp produced by the Winestock process is practically ready for use on paper 
machine. Mills pirrchasing this pulp would be saving the factory costs in producing 
pulp from the rags plus the loss in destruction of fibers while so doing. 

The stock produced by the Winestock process would be available for making into 
the highest grade of paper. The cost of handling by this new method would be les3 
than that of the method in use at the present time; also, time required, cost of chem- 
icals and fiber loss would be materially decreased. 

The net returns to the Government by the use of the new method would be very 
large as compared with the retmns from the present method. The proposed method 
would have the following advantages over the present method: 

First. Speed in production (saving cost of power and reduction in number of 
employees). 

Second. Decreased loss of fibers, thereby increasing the yield of pulp. 

Third. Better grade of fiber, thoroughly removing all ink and dirt, increasing the 
sale value of pulp over 600 per cent. 

The estimated saving over the present method amounts to about $100,000. The 
first and second items shown under advantages would offset the amount at present 
received for the pulp. 

Respectfully, F. C. Clark. 

'. ) 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



018 539 174 7 ♦ 



I * f 



.US' 
/V3 



LIBRftRY OF CUNOKtc. 



018 539 174 7. 



